New to Dominican

[AliW]

Hello Folks
Never been before, but after reading all of your updates, I can't wait! Staying in Puerto Plata Village, Player Dorado (sorry if not spelt right) anyone give me any feedback? Will have husband and two kids (4 and 8).

Arriving 6 August 05.

KR
Ali

 

[Robert]

Have fun! I'm sure you will have a blast here

FYI: It's Dominican Republic, not Dominican.
It's like saying, Zealand is next to Australia.

 

[AnnaC]

It's in Playa Dorada, playa means beach and player is something else. It's a good resort you'll like it I'm sure

here's some info on the whole complex


http://www.playadorada.com.do/

 

[Rocky]

Day trips.

Don't believe anybody who tells you that it's dangerous to go out of the complex.
They would like to keep you and your money on their grounds, or sell you a tour at "tourist prices".
Jump in a cab one day, visit Sosua beach, and/or Cabarete beach.

 

[Frank the Tank]

Enjoy your trip. The DR is by far the best of all the carribean islands. Be sure to venture out of the resort and experience the real DR. You won't regret it. I guarantee you'll come back again and again.

 

[HOWMAR]

Don't believe anybody who tells you that it's dangerous to go out of the complex.
They would like to keep you and your money on their grounds, or sell you a tour at "tourist prices".
Jump in a cab one day, visit Sosua beach, and/or Cabarete beach.

Hell, don't even pay for a cab. Use a publico or guagua (Public taxi or van). They run past the entrance to Playa Dorado and go to Sosua and Caberete. They cost only 20 pesos per adult. A hotel taxi would be at least 25 dollars each way plus he'll want to wait for you.. It may be more crowded than a private taxi, but you'll get the local flavor and save enough to pay for your souveniers. Also, don't listen to your tour operator, IT IS SAFE.

 

[hifiman]

totaly safe

Took my wife and 8 year old son downtown,we took public transit and he had a ball.Didn't feel threatened once.If you get tired of AI food just take a walk outside the complex,their are some great restaurants nearby like Cito's Cafe.
Have fun

 

[rellosk]

Hell, don't even pay for a cab. Use a publico or guagua (Public taxi or van). They run past the entrance to Playa Dorado and go to Sosua and Caberete. They cost only 20 pesos per adult. A hotel taxi would be at least 25 dollars each way plus he'll want to wait for you.. It may be more crowded than a private taxi, but you'll get the local flavor and save enough to pay for your souveniers. Also, don't listen to your tour operator, IT IS SAFE.

I would not advise a first timer with two children (one being 4 years old), to take a publico. A private taxi, yes; but not a publico or a guagua. While it's not dangerous, it can be confusing, especially if the poster does not speak Spanish (or is geographically challenged, as I am). And there always is the very slight risk of being pick-pocketed.

 

[RHM]

I would not advise a first timer with two children (one being 4 years old), to take a publico. A private taxi, yes; but not a publico or a guagua. While it's not dangerous, it can be confusing, especially if the poster does not speak Spanish (or is geographically challenged, as I am). And there always is the very slight risk of being pick-pocketed.

Spot on. Remember, with publicos people are getting in and out of the car all the time. Get a taxi, relax and enjoy. The taxi driver will also feel responsible for you and act accordingly. A publico driver usually cares less.

Scandall

 

[hifiman]

Spot on. Remember, with publicos people are getting in and out of the car all the time. Get a taxi, relax and enjoy. The taxi driver will also feel responsible for you and act accordingly. A publico driver usually cares less.

Scandall

I agree a taxi would be better the fist time around.This was not our first time and we took the bus not a car.What ever you decide just do it and don't worry what the AI rep tells you.

 

[ricktoronto]

It's in Playa Dorada, playa means beach and player is something else. It's a good resort you'll like it I'm sure

here's some info on the whole complex


http://www.playadorada.com.do/

Well "spelt" wasn't spelled right either so there you go, no big deal. NO doubt there are players at the playa.

 

[AliW]

Thanks for English Lesson

Well "spelt" wasn't spelled right either so there you go, no big deal. NO doubt there are players at the playa.

Hello Everyone who took time out to correct my grammar and my spelling - must be in the holiday mood already! Thanks to all who provided valuable information for which I will take on board.

KR
Ali

 

[rellosk]

Well "spelt" wasn't spelled right either so there you go, no big deal. NO doubt there are players at the playa.

Sorry to correct you Rick, but according to Webster's, spelt was spelt correctly; (assuming the OP was using the past tense).

 

[Tamborista]

Rellosk:
An apology to Rick?
I don't get it.
Has he ever helped anybody without his abrasive sarcasm?


T

 

[Mr.Mark]

Have fun! I'm sure you will have a blast here

FYI: It's Dominican Republic, not Dominican.
It's like saying, Zealand is next to Australia.

OP, don't mind Robert. You can say "the Dominican", it's a valid short form and if you say "the Dominican" it implicitly lets the reader now you're talking about the D.R. It's not offensive whatsoever. I think that what one would want to avoid is mistaking the D.R. for Dominica, another island in the Caribbean. In fact, in Spanish some say "yo voy a Dominicana" or "yo voy a la Dominicana": Republic doesn't identify a country, it just tells us about its political organization. But yeah, the official name of the D.R. is "Dominican Republic".
So, the thing is the correct way of saying it is "Dominican Republic", but there's no offense taken in saying "the Dominican".

P.S.: Soy dominicano.

 

[miguel]

Que!

OP, don't mind Robert. You can say "the Dominican", it's a valid short form and if you say "the Dominican" it implicitly lets the reader now you're talking about the D.R. It's not offensive whatsoever. I think that what one would want to avoid is mistaking the D.R. for Dominica, another island in the Caribbean. In fact, in Spanish some say "yo voy a Dominicana" or "yo voy a la Dominicana": Republic doesn't identify a country, it just tells us about its political organization. But yeah, the official name of the D.R. is "Dominican Republic".
So, the thing is the correct way of saying it is "Dominican Republic", but there's no offense taken in saying "the Dominican".

P.S.: Soy dominicano.

" There's not offense taken in saying "the Dominican", I hope that you are talking about yourself and not the whole dominican population. Many dominicans DO NOT like their country to be identified as "the Dominican". It has a name and the name is the Dominican Republic. That some people are lazy or can not care less to show some respect for a country, that's another story.

Btw, naci en la Republica Dominicana and I am one that would NEVER call the DR "dominicana". When they rename it "Dominicana" then and only then would I call it that way. In the meantime, I will keep on calling it by it's right name since I do not want to dispespect the founding fathers.

 

[rellosk]

Robert, you had to re-open that can of worms?

 

[Conchman]

Well people do say 'The States' and I don't see anybody getting offended. To me, this is pretty much the same.

Personally, I don't like it either when people say "The Dominican" but I certainly wouldn't correct anyone since I know what they're talking about and its not offensive.

Now that the can is open, shoot away!

 

[Tamborista]

Then the equivalant to "The States" would be "La Republica" which never seems to offend anybody and is used by many.

I can count on one hand native Dominicanas that say "I am going to The Dominican"!

 

[Mr.Mark]

" There's not offense taken in saying "the Dominican", I hope that you are talking about yourself and not the whole dominican population. Many dominicans DO NOT like their country to be identified as "the Dominican". It has a name and the name is the Dominican Republic. That some people are lazy or can not care less to show some respect for a country, that's another story.

Btw, naci en la Republica Dominicana and I am one that would NEVER call the DR "dominicana". When they rename it "Dominicana" then and only then would I call it that way. In the meantime, I will keep on calling it by it's right name since I do not want to dispespect the founding fathers.

Miguelito, of course I'm not talking about all our country fellowmen, but many of us think like me. I wouldn't call my country "Dominicana" either, or even "Santo Domingo" as some do, but I wouldn't mind if they say "the Dominican" in English. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel that in English it doesn't sound so bad as in Spanish. Compare "the Dominican" with "la Dominicana", I'd rather take the first one.

Sorry for reopening the can of worms, haha. Please take into account that I call our country Dominican Republic and that I do agree that this is the correct way, but we don't always use the most proper way of saying things, don't we?